Memories will spur on Exmouth runners

On April 13 Emily Wood from Exmouth will be running the London Marathon to raise funds for Cancer Research UK. Emily, 22, works in Exeter for Virgin Money, the marathon's main sponsor. Photo by Simon Horn. Ref exe 4304-09-14SH To order your copy of this photograph go to www.exmouthjournal.co.uk

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TWO Exmouth runners are limbering up for this year’s Virgin Money London Marathon.

Ian MacQueen will be running for Children with Cancer UK

Both are keen to raise as much money as possible for their respective charities, and both are in intensive training as the big day approaches.

But their experience of the 26-mile 385-yard race couldn’t be more different.

Around 1,200 runners will take to the streets of London on Sunday, April 13.

They’ll include Emily Wood, who’ll be running her first-ever marathon.

The 22-year-old, who works in the Exeter store of the event’s sponsor Virgin Money, will be raising money for Cancer Research UK.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” she said. “I’m taking part in memory of two special people – my nan and my cousin – who I will hold in my heart forever.”

“They both lost their battle to cancer,” said Emily. “That’s why I’m running in aid of Cancer Research UK, who do fantastic work in trying to beat this awful disease. The thought of my nan and my cousin will spur me on to finish.”

Emily – who has been training since November with regular runs from Exmouth to Budleigh and back – hopes to complete the course within five hours.

“It’s a bit scary,” she said, “but I’m pretty motivated to do it.”

For more details and to donate, visit www.virginmoneygiving.com/emilywood91

Meanwhile Ian MacQueen, 67, will have plenty of marathon experience to draw on when he pounds the capital’s cobblestones.

It will be the 28th time that the company director and chairman of Exmouth Chamber of Trade has competed in the London event.

This time he’s hoping to raise £3,000 for Children with Cancer UK.

The charity, inaugurated by Diana, Princess of Wales, was set up in 1988 by the O’Gorman family, after brother and sister Paul and Jean fell victim to cancer within nine months of each other.

“I will be running my 28th London Marathon for my friend, Cliff O’Gorman’s charity, Children With Cancer UK,” said Ian.

For more information and to donate, visit www.childrenwithcancer.org.uk